German-Slovenian Business Day explores sustainability potential

The article was previously published here

Circular economy is much more than recycling and sustainable operations pay off for businesses, including by giving them a long-term competitive advantage, heard an event organised by the German-Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Bled on 8 April.

Businesses are faced with the consequences of numerous geopolitical challenges where the US’s new trade policy stands out, Dagmar von Bohnstein, the president of the chamber, told the event, called German-Slovenian Business Day.

“Whatever the challenges, climate change must not be neglected and it requires decisive action,” she stressed.

Europe has achieved a lot in fighting these challenges, but there is still a lot of work to do. “We want to show that businesses are well aware of their own impact on the environment. At the same time, we need to be clear that without economic development there are no jobs and no progress in other areas,” von Bohnstein added.

Julie Neblich from the German Embassy in Ljubljana said that promoting business competitiveness must be closely linked to a sustainable approach, while geopolitical tensions underscore the importance of interconnectedness. She hopes that awareness of the need for cooperation will increase.

Germany’s success in this area is the result of long-standing efforts. “It has undoubtedly been a long road, but the result is worth the effort,” said Beate Baron, head of industrial policy at the German Ministry for the Economy and Climate. Nevertheless, she believes there is room for improvement.

She also believes that circular economy is much more than just recycling, it is primarily about promoting the long-term use of products, including through repairs and eventually reuse. It is closely linked to innovation, which is essential in today’s business environment to strengthen competitiveness.

The event was hosted by the IEDC Bled School of Management, whose Dean Danica Purg said she was happy that their education programmes have been pursuing sustainable development since the start.

Design researcher Ursula Tischner said that companies which invest in research and education of their employees can be more successful in circular economy. “We need to rethink what clients want from a certain solution and how it can be delivered in the best way for the environment and society.”

Such an approach is not necessarily at odds with maximising added value, while it may even be needed due to staff shortages, said Florian Schleicher, marketing strategist and founder of FutureS. “In fact, a third of employees aged 18-24 refuse a job if they feel that their employer does not pursue sustainability goals.”

The importance of sustainability for long-term success has also been recognised by Interzero Slovenia, whose CEO Darja Figelj said that circular economy starts with product design, with several stages leading all the way to effective recycling and each one of them requiring a thoughtful approach. “Without this, we can only talk about a sustainable approach in theory,” she said.